Group 2 - The fascination of men VS The weariness of women

The fascination of men VS The weariness of women

Perception of leaders during Covid-19

Project by: Francesca Maddii, Kirstine Bunde-P, Marie Sonnet, Laura Faure, Silvia AlfaroUniversity of Padova, CPDI 2022-2023

During the global pandemic of Covid-19, leaders took onto traditional and new media to communicate with the public, oftentimes in very effective ways, resulting in them sometimes gaining both the approval and the “affection” of the citizens.

We have noticed substantial differences between the genders, noticing how people started idolizing their male leaders compared to how weary and critical they became if their prime minister was a woman.

Since people were stuck at home because of Covid-19, social media usage was at an all time high

And people had a lot to say about their leaders!

Looking at some European Prime Ministers, we have compiled social media comments to show the discrepancy between genders

TAP A COUNTRY TO START!

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Prime Minister of Italy from June 2018 to February 2021

Giuseppe Conte

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"He is so hot...and that smile!

"Have you seen him in that suit??? He's so hot!"

"So handsome! I'm speechless..."

"I love you Mr. President!"

"What a man!"

"Such a smart, elegant, and charismatic man, he's the best representation Italy could ever have!"

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Prime Minister of Spain since June 2018

Pedro Sánchez

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"Okay, I´m going to say it. He´s HOT .What a gorgeous man."

"Pedro is hot and also smart"

The USA pay tribute to the beauty of Pedro Sánchez: "He looks like Superman".

"Admirer of the most handsome and best pedro sanchez"

The Polish student who has gone viral for her love on Pedro Sánchez: "He is handsome with or without a tie"

"I have voted Pedro Sánchez for handsome"

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Prime Minister of Denmark since June 2019

Mette Frederiksen

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"Never have I experienced a PM I like less. Not because of her politics but her personality"

"I think she is a cow - and that is term I haven't used about a man"

"Fuck you Mette"

"I do no watch anything with her in it - no press conferences or anything. Just looking af her makes me sick"

"What a demon"

"May God have mercy on us".

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Prime Minister of Belgium from October 2019 to October 2020

Sophie Wilmès

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"Learn to be polite and listen when someone speaks to you in parliament. You are pitiful my poor old woman, leave quickly with your bumpkins."

"Die in hell bitch"

"You are disgusting "

"Girl with balls, NO thank you Mam"

"#notmyprime"

"It is said that the greatness of a man is not measured by the size of his body, but by the greatness of his actions. This is also true for some ladies but you are not one of them".

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For more information:

The Praise for a ‘Caretaker’ Leader Gendered Press Coverage of Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès in a COVID-19 Context

by Clémence Deswert

Le bimbe di Conte e la bellezza in politica

by Carlo Fusi

Gatti: “He votado a Pedro Sánchez por guapo.”

Mega

Perception of the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Spain in television conferences about Covid-19

by Emma Rodero

Refracting success through gender: persistent sexism during the Covid-19 crisis

by Katie Sparring

Leading the Fight Against the Pandemic: Does Gender Really Matter?

by Supriya Garikipati & Uma Kambhampati

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